Kite control



June 23, 1964 L MCCL 3,138,356

. KITE CONTROL Fil ed Oct. 50-. 1961 INVENTOR. F I 2 RAYMOND L. MECLAIN ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofilice N 3,138,356 Patented June 23, 1964 3,138,356 KITE CONTROL Raymond L. McClain, 3125 Idlewild, Wichita, Kans. Filed (lot. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 149,821 Claims. (Cl. 244-155) This invention relates to kites. More specifically, my invention relates to new kite control means. Still more specifically, my invention relates to a relatively simple and effective single-piece device by means of which a kite can be reeled out, controllably flown, and reeled in.

Various devices to control kites while in flight and to reel kites in and out are known to the prior art but they all suffer from several disadvantages. One of the most common of these disadvantages, and one which makes many of the devices of the prior art impractical for use with childrens kites is the complexity of the control means. Many of these devices have several moving parts, such as reels, cranks, and catches, or having several separable parts such as a handle on which can be mounted a holder for string. These features have the disadvantage of being more diflicult and expensive to make, of being more difilcult to operate, and of being more easily broken. Another difficulty of the devices of the prior art is that the strings are the same distance apart during both the reeling and the flying operations. For greater control during flight, the strings should be relatively far apart during flying but during reeling this control is not necessary and reeling and unreeling proceed slower and with more difiiculty if the strings are wound on two spools, one at each end of a long handle. Wind fluctuations causing the kite to twist and turn increase the difficulty of reeling with the devices of the prior art because they cause tension at each end of the controlling device to change.

These and other disadvantages and diflicutlies of the prior art kite controls have been overcome by my invention. My invention includes a movable member constructed in the end portions to receive means to connect the movable member to a kite, commonly string, which is attached thereto in spaced relation during the kite flying operation. Means are provided with the movable member which define a central spool prtion which receives the preferred string means during winding and unwinding operation and during periods of non-use. The means defining the spool portion preferably have means therewith constructed to removably receive and hold the preferred string means during initial winding operation and when all the string has played out. In addiiton, or as an alternative, means can be provided to automatically release the string means from the spool portion of the member when all of the string means is unreeled in kite flying operation.

In a preferred specific embodiment of the invention, my new kite control means includes an elongated rod of plastic material which is of size to be easily gripped in the hands of the user. The rod has a centrally located cylindrical portion and end portions tapering therefrom, the end portions being of equal size and of like size with the cylindrical portion. A shallow groove is provided near each end portion which forms a knob and the groove receives string means in operation. Two circular discs or flanges are provided and positioned at the ends of the cylindrical portion of the rod and planes generally perpendicular to the axis of the rod and such define a spool portion. Each of the discs preferably has a straight slot therethrough extending tangentially along thedisc from the radially outer surface thereof to the surface of the rod to receive and hold the string means. Preferably, two strings are provided and attached in one end portion in the grooves and are attached in the other end portion to opposite sides of a kite or the like. When all the string is played out, the kite is flown with the strings extending from the grooves and during reeling and unreeling operations as well as during periods of non-use the string is placed in the slots and then wound around the spool portion of the device.

It is an object of this invention to provide new kite control means.

It is another object of this invention to provide a one piece kit control means by which the distance between the ends of the strings on the control means holding the kite can be varied between reeling operations and the flying and controlling operations.

It is still another object of this invention to overcome the various disadvantages of the kite controlling means of the prior art.

Another object is to provide relatively inexpensive and easy to construct kite control means.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure.

Drawings accompany and are a part of this disclosure. These drawings depict a preferred specific embodiment of the new kite control structure of my invention, and it is to be understood that such drawings are not to unduly limit the scope of my invention.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a preferred specific embodiment of the new kite control means of my invention shown with the string or cord in reeling or unreeling position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred specific embodiment of the new kite control of my invention attached to a kite, with the string or cord completely unreeled and the kite flying.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal cross section view of the preferred specific embodiment of the new kite control shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the string or cord removed, taken along the line 33 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross section view taken along the line 44 in FIG. 3.

The following is a discussion and description of the new kite control structure of my invention made with reference to the drawings whereon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. The discussion and description are of a preferred specific embodiment of the new kite control structure of my invention, and it is to be understood that such is not to unduly limit the scope of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the kite control shown generally at 10 is a preferred specific embodiment of the new kite control of my invention. It includes a rod or the like 12 having a generally cylindrical center portion 11, and two tapered end portions 13 and 15 having knobs 14 and 16 at the extreme ends thereof which are formed by shallow grooves 17 and 19, respectively. Two discs or projecting flanges 18 and 20 are provided andare preferably integral with rod 12 and preferably positioned at the ends of the cylindrical portion 11. Discs or flanges 18 and 20 are positioned along rod 12 so that the flat surfaces of the discs or flanges are in planes generally perpendicular to the axis of rod 12, and are spaced along rod 12 so that the distance from knob 14 to disc 18 is equal to the distance from knob 16 to disc 20. This is desirable since a centrally located spool portion as defined by discs 18 and 20 and cylindrical center portion 11 facilitates the reeling and unreeling operations described hereinafter. The rod 12, together with the discs 18 and 20 can be molded as one piece, out of a suitable material such as plastic, and the like, or they can be separately formed and the discs mounted on the rod 12 in any suitable manner, such as by fusing the parts together, by cementing, gluing, etc. The rod 12 can be machined or formed from other materials such as wood, hard rubber, or synthetic rubber, suitable metals, and the like.

Discs 18 and 20 have slots 22 and 24 cut or otherwise formed therein. The slots 22 and 24 are preferably in a line tangent to the circular cross section of rod 12 and are preferably generally parallel to each other. The slots 22 and 24 preferably extend from the outer edge of the discs to the surface of rod 12. Two strings or cords 26 and 28 are provided and one end of each of strings 26 and 28 is tied or otherwise secured in grooves 17 and 19, respectively, and the other end of each of strings 26 and 28 is fastened to opposite ends of a frame member or cross piece 29 of a kite 36. Kite 30 is a common kite, having perpendicular cross members 29 and 32, made of wood, plastic, metal or the like, and covered with a wind catching sheet of material 34 such as paper, plastic, and the like. The kite control of my invention works very well with the kite described and illustrated in the drawings and can also be used with other types of kites.

The operation of the kite control of the invention is as follows. When the kite 30 and the kite control are being stored or the strings 26 and 28 are being wound or unwound, the kite control appears as in FIG. 1, with the strings or cords 26 and 2S wrapped around the center or spool portion 11 of rod 12. When it is desired to fly the kite 30, the end portions 13 and 15 of rod 12 are grasped with the hands and the kite control 10 is turned about its own axis in a direction to play out the string. When the strings are completely unwound, they are removed from slots 22 or 24. These slots are preferably cut tangentially rather than radially, so that the strings are wedged or urged to the bottom of the slots and are not removed except by a deliberate action, and so that when the strings are inserted in the slots they will not accidently slip out of the slots. Because the slots are cut tangentially, they act as automatic removal means, that is, when the string is unwound, the pull from the kite causes the strings to slide out of the grooves. With strings 26 and 28 removed from slots 22 and 24 as shown in FIG. 2, kite 30 can now be easily controlled by twisting or turning the kite control 10, with one hand if desired. When it is desired to reel in the kite 30, the two strings 26 and 28 are inserted in the slots 24 and 22 respectively and kite control 10 is manually turned about its axis to reel in the kite. The tangentially cut slots act to hold the strings and descrease the chance of their sliding out during winding operation.

The overall size and dimensions of kite control 10 can vary widely and are preferably such as to be easily gripped by the user. The radius of discs 18 and and the length of the central cylindrical portion 11 depend on the size and length of the strings 26 and 28 which are wound thereon. The length of rod 12 depends on the degree of control desired.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various changes and modifications of the preferred kite control structure disclosed herein can be made or followed without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or from the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. Kite control means comprising, in combination, a plastic rod of size to be easily gripped in the hand of the user, said rod having a generally cylindrical center portion and end portions tapering therefrom, said cylindrical portion and said end portion having the same axial length, said rod having a shallow groove near each end thereof forming a knob at each end of said rod, said rod having two integral circular discs thereon having flat surfaces in planes perpendicular to the axis of said rod, said discs being positioned at the junctions of said tapered end portions and said cylindrical portion of said rod, each of said discs having a straight slot therethrough in a direction tangent to a circular cross section through said rod and extending from the outer edge of said disc to the surface of said rod, each of said slots being parallel to the other of said slots, a kite having two cross braces and a wind-catching sheet of material, and two strings, one end of each of said strings being fastened to opposite ends of said cross braces of said kite, the other end of each of said strings being tied to said grooves in said rod, each of said strings being positioned in the adjacent one of said slots and wound around said cylindrical center portion of said rod a number of times during periods of non-use, said kite control means being operable to controllably raise and fly a kite by turning said means in the hands of the user to unwind said string until completely unwound from said central cylindrical portion, said kite being controlled by removing said strings from said slots and making various selective movements of said control means, and said kite being lowered by placing said strings into said slots and turning said rod to wind said strings on said cylindrical portion thereof.

2. Kite control means comprising, in combination, an elongated rod of such size to be easily manipulated by the hands, each end portion of said rod having a groove thereon forming a knob at the ends thereof, said rod having two integral discs in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof and spaced apart to divide said rod into three substantially equal portions, each of said discs having a slot therethrough tangent to the surface of said rod, each of said slots being parallel to the other of said slots, and two strings, one end of each of said strings being fastenable to a kite with the other end thereof being fastened around said groove in said rod and extending longitudinally along said rod through said slot and wound around said rod a number of times, said means being operable to raise a kite by turning said means to unwind said string, said kite being controlled by removing said strings from said slots and moving said control means, and said kite being lowered by placing said strings in said slots and winding said strings about said rod between said discs.

3. Kite control means comprising, in combination, a turnable rod, each end portion of said rod having a groove thereon forming a knob at the end thereof, two strings, each of said strings being fastened at one end in one of said grooves and fastenable at the other end to a kite, projecting means with said rod defining a centrally located spool portion, said projecting means receiving and holding said strings during winding and unwinding operations, and during periods of non-use, said projecting means being constructed to automatically release said strings therefrom when said strings are unwound, said kite control means being constructed and adapted to raise a kite by turning said rod until said string is completely unwound from said spool portion thereof with said string being automatically released from said projecting means, and said kite being lowered by placing said strings in said projecting means wherein they are held against inadvertent removal, and turning said means.

4. Kite control means comprising, in combination, a turnable rod, each end portion of said rod having an attachment means thereon, two strings, each of said strings being fastened on one end to said attachment means and fastenable at the other end to a kite, projecting means with said rod defining a centrally located spool portion, said projecting means receiving and holding said strings during winding and unwinding operations, and during periods of non-use, said projecting means being constructed to automatically release said strings therefrom when said strings are unwound, said kite control means being constructed and adapted to raise a kite by turning said rod until said string is completely unwound from said spool portion thereof with said strings being automatirally released from said projecting means, and said kite being lowered by placing said strings in said projecting means wherein they are held against inadvertent removal, and turning said means.

5. Kite control means comprising, in combination, a turnable rod, each end portion of said rod having an attachment means thereon, two strings, each of said strings being fastened at one end to said attachment means and 5 t3 fastenable at the other end to a kite, projecting means with projecting means, and said kite being lowered by placing said rod defining a centrally located spool portion, said said strings in said projecting means wherein they are projecting means receiving and holding said strings during held against inadvertent removal, and turning said means. Winding unwiildipg operationsfland during periods of References Cited in the file of this patent non-use, said pro ecting means being constructed to re- 5 lease said strings therefrom when said strings are un- UNITED STATES PATENTS wound, said kite control means being constructed and 2,388,478 G b N 6, 1945 adapted to raise a kite by turning said rod until said 2,472 075 H 1 Ju 7, 1949 string is completely unwound from said spool portion 2 494 430 C th J 10, 1950 thereof, with said strings subsequently released from said 10 2,519,594 Ohland Aug. 22, 1950 

1. KITE CONTROL MEANS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PLASTIC ROD OF SIZE TO BE EASILY GRIPPED IN THE HAND OF THE USER, SAID ROD HAVING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL CENTER PORTION AND END PORTIONS TAPERING THEREFROM, SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND SAID END PORTION HAVING THE SAME AXIAL LENGTH, SAID ROD HAVING A SHALLOW GROOVE NEAR EACH END THEREOF FORMING A KNOB AT EACH END OF SAID ROD, SAID ROD HAVING TWO INTEGRAL CIRCULAR DISCS THEREON HAVING FLAT SURFACES IN PLANES PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF SAID ROD, SAID DISCS BEING POSITIONED AT THE JUNCTIONS OF SAID TAPERED END PORTIONS AND SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION OF SAID ROD, EACH OF SAID DISCS HAVING A STRAIGHT SLOT THERETHROUGH IN A DIRECTION TANGENT TO A CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION THROUGH SAID ROD AND EXTENDING FROM THE OUTER EDGE OF SAID DISC TO THE SURFACE OF SAID ROD, EACH OF SAID SLOTS BEING PARALLEL TO THE OTHER OF SAID SLOTS, A KITE HAVING TWO CROSS BRACES AND A WIND-CATCHING SHEET OF MATERIAL, AND TWO STRINGS, ONE END OF EACH OF SAID STRINGS BEING FASTENED TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID CROSS BRACES OF SAID KITE, THE OTHER END OF EACH OF SAID STRINGS BEING TIED TO SAID GROOVES IN SAID ROD, EACH OF SAID STRINGS BEING POSITIONED IN THE ADJACENT ONE OF SAID SLOTS AND WOUND AROUND SAID CYLINDRICAL CENTER PORTION OF SAID ROD A NUMBER OF TIMES DURING PERIODS OF NON-USE, SAID KITE CONTROL MEANS BEING OPERABLE TO CONTROLLABLY RAISE AND FLY A KITE BY TURNING SAID MEANS IN THE HANDS OF THE USER TO UNWIND SAID STRING UNTIL COMPLETELY UNWOUND FROM SAID CENTRAL CYLINDRICAL PORTION, SAID KITE BEING CONTROLLED BY REMOVING SAID STRINGS FROM SAID SLOTS AND MAKING VARIOUS SELECTIVE MOVEMENTS OF SAID CONTROL MEANS, AND SAID KITE BEING LOWERED BY PLACING SAID STRINGS INTO SAID SLOTS AND TURNING SAID ROD TO WIND SAID STRINGS ON SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION THEREOF. 